Atelier-Musée de l'Imprimerie - AMI Malesherbes
About This Museum
Stepping into the AMI Malesherbes is like walking straight onto the print shop floor of a century ago. The air carries that distinct, comforting scent of old paper and ink, and you're immediately surrounded by the heavy, beautiful machinery that brought words to life. It’s not a stuffy, look-but-don't-touch kind of place; you can feel the weight of the lead type in your hands and hear the soft clatter as a volunteer sets a press. This is a living, breathing tribute to the craft of printing, and its energy is absolutely infectious.
Collection Highlights
The star of the show is undoubtedly the massive collection of functioning presses, from intricate tabletop models to a hulking Marinoni cylinder press that dominates the room. Don't miss the typecase area, where you can see drawers filled with thousands of individual characters, and watch a demonstration of how they were meticulously set by hand for a single page.
Visitor Information
It's tucked away in Le Malesherbois, so having a car is your best bet. Check their website for demo times before you go—seeing these magnificent machines in action is the whole point and it’s utterly mesmerizing.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a converted industrial workshop or large farm building, it has a wonderfully unpretentious feel with high ceilings, exposed beams, and massive wooden doors that let the light flood in.
Contact & Location
Address: 45330, Coudray, Le Malesherbois, Pithiviers, Loiret, Centre-Val de Loire, France métropolitaine, France
Phone: +33 2 38 33 22 67
Website: Visit Website
